Folding crate



J. McCAULEY.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICAHON man MAYls. 1911.

UNITED STATES JOHN MCCAULEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 8, 1920.

Application filedltlay 15, 1917. Serial No. 168,803.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MoCAiiLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. l

This invention relates to folding crates or boxes.

The object of the invention is to construct a practical and simple crate for shipping purposes which embodies in one structure, all of the parts of the crate, so that when folded into a compact bundle, it will take up a minimum amount ofspace, and the locking of the parts at a single point will insure the folded relation to the end of th return ourney.

yIt is also an object of the invention to provide in a folding crate structure, a box, which when set up, will possess a maximum degree of strength and rigidity, without the necessity of complicated or expensive fastening devices.

lVith the above objects in view, and such others relating to the details of construction, as may hereinafter appear, my invention will now be fully set forth and described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Y

Figure 1 is a plan view of the box or crate constructed in accordance with the invention set up with the lid sections closed,

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the crate in folded condition,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the box,

Fig. 4 is a transverse section therethrough,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section, and

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents a base which may be built upon suitable cleat members 2. Rising from the longitudinal sides of the base 1, are the vertically disposed side members or bars 3, the vertical height of the bars 3 being slightly greater, or approximating, the net thickness of the ends 4, which, preferably are also built up with the cleats 5. The cleats 5 provide an intermediate space within which suitable handles 6 may be knocked down.

Hinged to the upper edges of the bars 3 are the sides 7, the hinges 8 thereof being secured across the inner faces of the sides 7 and bars 3 so that the sides will fold inwardly upon the outer faces of the ends 4. Since the ends 4 are of such length as to fold against the bottom 1 they must therefore lit between the bars 3 and the sides 7 when the latter stand in their open vertical positions. Located on the inner faces of the sides 7 are the eyelets 10 which are adapted to cooperate with the hooks 11 secured upon the inner faces of the ends 4 for engage ment with the eyelets when the sides and ends are extended. VSufficient spring or free play is allowed the sides 7 so that they may be sprung outwardly beyond the vertical to the slight degree which is necessary to permit the extremities of the ends 4 to pass by the eyelets into their seated relation against the cleats 9.

The cover consists of the half sections 12 and 13 which are hinged along the upper edges of the sides 7 by means of the threeleaf hinges 14, the middle leaves of the hinges 14 approximating the thickness of the elements 12 and 13, so that when the cover sections are thrown in their open position, they will wholly clear the upper edges of the sides, and their free edges will come intoV the proper position for securing the crate in its knock down or folded condition. The cover section 12 is provided on its free edge with a pair of recessed lock plates 15 with which a pair of hooks 16 may be en` gaged to lock the cover section in place, the hooks 16 being pivoted to the inner faces of the ends 4, so that when the crate is locked it will be impossible to gain access to the fastenings for the section 12. The section 13 may be secured to the section 12, in their locked condition, by means of a pair of slide bolts 17 which are recessed longitudinally into the cleats 18 of the cover section, the bolts entering into pockets 19 formed into companion cleats 20 of the cover section 12 and playing upon these bolts are friction springs 19*1 to hold them adjusted. Thus, when the crate is loaded and the covers are drawn into closed position, the latter may be firmly secured in place. ln order to lock or seal the crate, a hasp 21 is mounted to extend across the joints between the sections 12 and 13 for the application of a lock or seal.

In folding the crate, the -cover sections 12 and 13 are first thrown backwardly against the sides 7, the ends 4L are then released'and:

to place them in substantially contacting re-L lation at their meeting edges along the middle ofthe box or crate. The sides 7 when' folded inwardly have the covery sections 12 and'13 superimposed thereon, and connected tothe side bars 3 are suitable hooks 22 and 23, which. are adapted to'engage in keepers 24, such. as eye members carried upon the sections 12 and 13 ofi the cover or lid, thereby locking the same against upward swinging movement andthus holding the crate knocked downvor collapsede When the crate is set'I up for use a lock which is adapted to accompany the crate may be engaged with the keeper for the hasp 21: carried upon the section-l 13l and which extends across the sections 12 and 13 in order to secure the crate or boxV closed while loaded and when transported from one point to another.

The construction above described, provides a complete, practical and serviceable shipping device which is particularly adapted for use inythe present increasing growth of parcel post trade, and lls the demand-'for such a crate in this and other industries.

vWhat l claim as my invention is:

A folding crate comprising a bottom, fixed side bars along its; opposite longitudinal edges, inwardly foldable ends hinged to the bottom between the sidebars, sides hinged to the side bars and foldable inwardly into the same plane witheach other upon the ends whenlfolded, coverfsections swingingly connected to the upper edges of thefrespective sides and adapted to fold outwardly upon the sides when folded, hooks on thebars.

engaging eyes on the normally upper faces of said sections, a hasp on one covery section engaging one of said eyeson-the other when the box is set up and the cover closed, recessedlock platesinone section,` and hooks` pivoted inside said ends and engaging the y lock plates whenfthe boX- is setup.

1n testimony whereof; I aiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MCGAULEY. Witnesses:

AUGUSTUS M'. WISE, EDWARD POWERS. 

